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| Africa North |
| Libya Seeks U.N. Help, Warns of Collapse |
| 2014-07-18 |
| [An Nahar] Libya on Thursday asked the United Nations ...an idea whose time has gone... for help to build up its security forces, with the foreign minister warning that his country could turn into a "failed state." Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdelaziz asked the U.N. Security Council to dispatch experts to train the country's defense and police forces to ensure they can protect oil fields, airports and other vital sites. "We are not asking for military intervention," said Abdelaziz. "We are asking for a team from the U.N. specialized in the field of security." Libya has seen a surge of violence, with Islamist and other militias recently locked in fighting around Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... airport, which has been shut down amid growing fears of all-out civil war. "Should Libya become a failed state, kidnapped by radical groups and warlords, the consequences would be far-reaching and perhaps beyond control," warned Abdelaziz. Libya could become a "hub for attracting Lion of Islams", feeding radicalism and the arms flow in the region and further afield in Syria, he warned. "Don't you think that such patterns that are indicative of heading towards a failed state would justify a stronger, more strategic engagement from the Security Council?" he asked. The 15-member Security Council was expected to issue a statement later on the Libya crisis. The United Nations last week evacuated its staff from Libya after the latest upsurge in fighting. Abdelaziz said a new U.N. mission to help train the security forces would ensure Tripoli keeps control of vital oil revenue after bully boy groups seized oil terminals last year. The blockades of the oil facilities that finally came to an end earlier this month deprived Libya of more than 30 billion dollars in revenue over 11 months, said the foreign minister. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Waiting for "Responsibility To Protect 2.0" to kick in... /sarc |
| Posted by: Pappy 2014-07-18 17:25 |
| #1 "Just hit that 'RESET' button" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2014-07-18 17:19 |